If there was one band whose appearance at and support for the Bill Graham
Memorial Concert - held in San Francisco s Golden Gate Park on November
3rd 1991, just 8 days after Bill and his girlfriend, Melissa Gold, plus
pilot Steve Kahn, were killed in a fatal helicopter accident - was not
just assured but all but mandatory, it was The Grateful Dead.

The
Dead were scheduled to start a four-concert series at the Oakland Coliseum
less than 48 hours after Bill Graham s death, and briefly considered cancelling,
but decided to honour his spirit by soldiering on. Ironically, it was
the largest show Bill Graham Presents - Bill s promotions company - had
ever put on in the Bay Area. It featured quite a parade of stars, too:
Jackson Browne, Joe Satriani, Aaron Neville, Cesar Rosas and David Hidalgo
of Los Lobos, Journey, Robin Williams, Bobby McFerrin, Tracy Chapman,
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and, of course, Santana and the Dead - joined
mid set by John Fogerty for a few Creedence songs. The Dead s set concluded
with Sunshine Daydream but two encores followed - a deeply affecting version
of Forever Young with Neil Young fronting the group, and then a bittersweet
Touch of Grey.

The
actual finale of the afternoon featured many of the artists who had performed
getting onto the stage for a rousing and spirited Amazing Grace , ending
a sad day during which emotions were clearly mixed, but one that had ultimately
proven joyous and as it had been tagged one full of laughter, love and
music.